Automatic straw-stacker



No. 613,260. Patented Nov. I, 1398. s. n. FELSING & E. a. GUSTAFSON.

AUTOMATIC STRAW STACKER.

(Application filed Jan. 8, 1898.) (No Model.) 2 Sheats-Sheet I.

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No. 613,260. Patented Nov. I898. I

s. n. FELSING & E. G. GUSTAFSON.

AUTOMATIC STBAW STAGKER.

(Application filed Jan. 6, 1898.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL D. FELSING AND ELIAS G. GUSTAFSON, OF MAPLEBAY, MINNESOTA.

AUTOMATIC STRAW-STACKER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 613,260, dated November 1, 1898.

Application filed January 6, 1898. Serial No. 665,822. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that .we, SAMUEL D. FELSING and ELIAS G. GUSTAFSON, citizens of the United States, residing at Maplebay, in the county of Polk and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and useful Automatic Straw- Stacker, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in pneumatic straw-stackers, and it is designed particularly as an improvement upon the structure disclosed in our prior Letters Patent, No. 593,995, dated November 23, 1897.

Among other objects we aim to specify the construction of the stacker by the employment of a single continuous stacker-tube in lieu of the sectional extensible tube disclosed in our prior patent, to mount the stackertube and the wind-trunk in a manner to fold compactly upon the threshing-machine and also enable said wind-trunk and stacker-tube to be brought into compact close relation to the casing of the stacker mechanism, to prevent choking or clogging by the chafi and long straws which are deposited from the straw-rack of the threshing -machine to the hopper of the stacker mechanism, and to provide improved means for adjusting the stacker-tube laterally and vertically.

With these ends in view our invention consists in the novel combination of elements and in the construction and arrangement of parts, which Will hereinafter be fully described and claimed.

To enable others to understand our inven tion, we have illustrated the preferred embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which- Figure l is a side elevation of a strawstacker embodying our invention applied to the delivery end of an ordinary threshingmachine and showing by full lines the stacker-tube in operative relation to the ma chine and by dotted lines the stackertube and wind-trunk in their folded positions with relation to said threshing-machine. Fig. 2 is a plan View of the part shown by Fig. 1,with the stacker-tube and wind-trunk in their unfolded operative positions. Fig. 3 is a 1ongitudinal sectional view on the plane indicated by the dotted line a a of Fig. 2. Fig.

4 is a sectional view on the plane indicated by the dotted line b b of Fig; 1. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the mechanism for adjusting the stacker-tube laterally with relation to the wind-trunk and hopper of the stacker attachment.

Like numerals of reference denote like and corresponding parts in each of the several figures of the drawings.

1 designates a part of a threshing-machine equipped with the upright posts 2 and the overhanging delivery end 3. These parts are ordinary in the construction of threshingmachines, and no novelty therefor is claimed herein, because our stacker attachment may be applied to any ordinary threshingmachine.

Our stacker attachment contemplates the employment of a casing 4, which is constructed to fit compactly against the post 2 and the overhanging delivery end 3 of the threshingmachine. This casing4 is shown as consisting of the horizontal sills 5, the sideboards.

6, the inclined posts 7, and the hood 8. All

of these parts are united together in a suitable manner, and the casing in its entirety is fitted to the delivery end of the threshingmachine to form practically a continuation thereof and receive the straw and chaff directly from the straw-rack of said machine.

The stacker-casing 4 is designed to be attached rigidly and detachably to the delivery end of the threshing-machine, and for this purpose we provide the fasteners 9 of any suitable construction and which are arranged to engage with the casing 4 and the delivery end of the threshing-machine in a suitable manner.

The casing 4 of the stacker attachment carries at its lower part a fan-casing 10, which is of any preferred construction and is attached to the stacker-casing'4 to provide a delivery-mouth 10. Within this fan-casing is arranged the fan 11, the shaft 12 of which passes through the inlet-openings 12 to the fan-casing, said shaft being journaled in suitable bearings 13, provided on the side sills 5 of the stacker-casing.

ery-mouth of this fan-casing the stacker-casing is constructed with a hopper 15, which is formed by the inclined boards 14 and the bottom of the hopper-casing. These walls 14 In rear of the deliv-' are arranged in inclined positions between the bottom of the stacker-casing and the side walls thereof, and the hopper is thus given a flaring appearance in an upward direction. The hopper partakes of the inclination of the inclined posts 7 of the stacker-casing, and said hopper thus lies directly in the path of the blast from the rotary blower or fan 11.

The volume and strength of the blast from the fan to the hopper is regulated by an adjustable wind-gate 14, hung in the mouth of the fan-casiu g and provided with a suitable crank 14", by which the wind-gate maybe adjusted as desired.

Vithin the stacker-casing and above the blower or fan therein is arranged the endless slatted traveler conveyer 16. This traveler conveyer 16 has its receiving end arranged in proper relation to the straw-rack of the threshing-machine to receive the chaif and straw therefrom, while the delivery end of said traveling conveyer 16 terminates over and adjacent to the hopper 15 in the stackercasing, whereby the straw and chaff is conveyed from the straw-rack of the threshingmachine directly to the hopper of the stacker attachment. The endless traveling conveyer 16 is supported by the shafts 17 18, which are journaled in suitable bearings, (not shown,) and one of the shafts is extended beyond the stacker-casing to receive a belt-pulley 19, around which passes a belt (not shown) for rotating the shaft and imparting the desired motion to said conveyer 16.

2O designates the wind-trunk, which is adjustable with the stacker-tube, so as to assume an inverted inoperative position on the deck of the threshing-machine. The open end of the wind-trunk when the latter is lowered is adapted to rest against the casing 4, and to distinguish that part of the casing against which the wind-trunk is designed to rest from the remaining portion of the casing we have designated the bearing-surface as a seat 21. This seat is formed by the face of the casing which surrounds the open rear end of the hopper 15, and the edge of the wind-trunk, at the enlarged inner end thereof, is adapted to press firmly and solidly against this seat 21, as shown in Fig. 3, in order to maintain a tight joint between the casing and the wind-trunk. This wind-trunk is made flaring for the purpose of taking in the entire width of the stacker-casing and the hopper 15 therein, and said wind-trunk is adjustably supported on the stacker-casing for the purpose of folding with the stacker-tube over and upon the threshing-machine. \Ve have provided novel means for hingin g the wind-trunk to the stacker-casing in a manner to permit said wind-trunk to fold downwardly against the seat 21 of the stacker-casing and also fold upwardly and over the hood 8 of the stackercasing to bring the stacker-tube to a position where it rests directly upon the threshingmachine. To attain these ends, we provide the arms 22, which are fastened rigidlyin any suitable manner to the sides of the flaring wind-trunk, and these arms extend outwardly and beyond the Wind-trunk to enable them to be attached to the links 25, which are pivot ally connected to the upright posts of the stacker-casing. The links 25 are fitted to play for limited distances in the slots 24, provided in arms 23, which are fixed to the sides of the stacker-casing. These arms 23 are arranged to extend rearwardly beyond the stacker-casing 4 and present the slots 24 in said arms to the inclined links 25. The links 25 are pivotally attached at 26 to the inclined posts of the stacker-casing 7, and the pivotal connection between the arms 22 of the windtrunk and the links 25 is effected by means of the pivotal rod 29, which extends transversely across and in rear of the stacker-casing, so as to be common to the pair of arms a 22 and the pair of links 25. The links 25 provide a loose pivotal connection between the adjustable wind-trunk and the stackercasing, and as said links are fitted in the slots 24 of the fixed arms 23 said links are held from lateral movement, while they are free to have the edgewise movement or play in the slotted arms necessary for the elevation of the wind-trunk sufliciently to rest upon the hood of the stacker-casing and the threshingmachine.

The swinging movement of the links 25 on their pivots 20' is limited by means of the stop-pins 28, which are fitted in suitable apertures of the fixed arms 23 to extend across the slots 24 in said arms and lie in the path of the links 25, and these stop-pins serve the purpose of locks to the links when the weight of the wind-trunk and stacker-tube is imposed on the links and the fixed arms 23.

The arms 22 of the wind-trunk do not extend to the upper side of the threshing-machine, and the links 25 are pivoted to the upper ends of the bars 22, so that the windtrunk when inverted may be raised clear of the deck of the tln'eshing-machinc and allowed to fold easily upon the same. The links 25 are confined against lateral displacement or spreading under the weight of the wind-trunk and the stacker-tube by means of the slotted fixed arms 23 when the trunk and tube are adjusted either to raise or lower the same, and at the same time the links are free to have the desired limited swinging movement necessary to firmly seat the wind-trunk against the stacker-casing. The top and bottom walls of the Wind-trunk are extended or prolonged beyond the side walls thereof at the free end of the casing, thus forming the pivotal plates 30, which, as shown by Figs. 2 and 4, have segmental or curved edges, and to these pivotal plates are fitted the upper and lower sides or walls of the stacker-tube 31. The stacker-tube is a single continuous structure in contradistinction to the sectional extensible tube disclosed in our prior patent, and the lower or inner end of said stackertube is fitted snugly to the pivotal fixed plates 30 of the wind-trunk in a manner to secure practically a tight joint between the wind -trunk and the stackertube. The stacker-tube is pivoted to the fixed plates 30 of the wind-trunk by bolts 32, which pass through the stacker-tube and said plates 30, and as the loose intermediate plates have the curved edges the stacker-tube is thus mo unted on the wind-trunk to have the desired lateral swinging motion with relation to the wind-trunk for the purpose of adjusting the stacker-tube to deposit the straw at different points on the stack, as is usual in the art. The spaces between the sides of the stackertube and the wind-trunk are closed by the employment of the flexible closure-plates 33, arranged in compact relation to the sides of the stacker-tube. The closure-plates are hinged or pivoted, as at 34, on the sides of the flaring Wind-trunk, while the other or free ends of said closure-plates are fitted in the spaces between the guide-bars and the sides of the stacker-tube, said guide-bars being fastened to the stacker-tube to allow of the introduction of the closure-plates between the sides of the stacker-tube and said bars.

The hinge connection between the stackercasing and the wind-trunk, which carries a stacker-tube which is hinged on vertical axes to the free end of said wind-trunk, affords a means by which the stacker-tube and windtrunk may swing or turn in a vertical direction, while at the same time the hinged connection allows the stacker=tube to swing laterally with respect to the Wind-trunk. The tube and trunk are thus connected together to fold over and upon the threshing-machine, and one means for imparting this folding movement to the stacker-tube and wind-trunk consists in the employment of the bracket 36, having a roller 37, a cross-rail 38, a cable 42, and an operating-shaft 44. The bracket 36 is fastened rigidly to the stacker-tube 31 near the free end thereof, and said bracket carries the roller 37, around which passes the adjusting-cable 42.

The cross-rail 38 is fastened rigidly to the top'of the threshing-machine at a suitable distance from the hood of the stacker-casing, and said cross-rail is provided with the slots 38. In one of these slots is provided a fixed pin 39 and a loose guide-roller 40, while the other slot receives a loose guide-roller 41. The shaft 44 is journaled in suitable bearings on the inclined sills of the stacker-casing, and at one end this shaft carries a spool 43, which is adapted to receive one end of the adjusting-cable 42. The bearings for the adjusting-shaft are indicated at 45, and said shaft has a hand-crank 46, by which it may be conveniently rotated to coil the cable on the spool 43. If desired, a suitable-pawl-and ratchet or other detent mechanism may be combined with the shaft 44 to hold the latter against rotation. One end of the cable 42 is fastened to the spool 43, from whence it'extends around the guide-rollers 41 40, thence to the guide-roller 37 in the bracket 16, and thence it is extended and fastened to the fixed pin 39 in the cross-rail 38.

The lateral or swinging motion of the stacker-tube is attained by the employment of an adj usting-arm 47. This arm is bent at a point intermediate of its length, as at 49, and one end of said arm 47 is fitted loosely on the pivotal bolt 32, which connects the stackertube to the wind-trunk. The adj Listing-arm 47 is fitted loosely on the pivotal bolt 32, and is fastened rigidly, as at 48, to the stacker-tube 31, and to the free bent end of this adjusting-arm is attached a connector 50. On one side of the stacker-casing 4, below the windtrunk, is journaled a guide spool or pulley 51, and on the other side of said stackercasing is mounted a shaft 53, which carries a toothed spool 52. The spools 51 52 and the connector on the adjusting-arm 47 of the stacker-tube are operatively connected together by means of the transverse endless chain 56, the respective ends of which are attached to the connector 50. This endless adjusting-chain passes from one end of the connector to and around the spool 51, thence across to and in engagement with the toothed spool 52, andfinally its other end is attached to the connector 50. The shaft 53 is geared, as at 55, to an operating-shaft 54, which is journaled in suitable bearings on one side of the stacker-casing. The protruding end of this adj usting-shaft 54 has a crank-handle 55*, and with said shaft is associated a suitable detent mechanism 56", such as a pawl and ratchet, as shown. This pawl and ratchet serves to prevent rotation of the shaft 54, which is geared to the shaft 53, that operates the sprocket-chain, so that the chain and the arm 47 will be held from movement to maintain the stacker-tube in its adjusted position, whereby the swinging stacker-tube is-prevented from being moved out of place accidentally or by wind blowing against the same.

As the free end of the arm 47 describes an arc of a circle with one of the bolts 32 as its center, there should be a permanent allowance of slack in the sprocket-chain 56 to allow the arm to swing to an extreme position when the stacker-tube is swung to its full limit in either direction; but the sprocketchain is prevented from displacement on the sprocket-wheels, because the teeth of the latter engage with the links of the chain.

The free end of the stacker-tube 31 carries an adjustable hood 57, which is pivotally attached to said stacker-tube, and to this ad justable hood is attached one-end of a cable or chain 58, which is led through a guide 59, fixed to one of the guide-bars 35 on the stackertube. On this guide-bar 35 is mounted an adjusting-pulley 60, to which is connected the cable or rope, and said pulley 60.11asa suitable crank 61 for adjusting it, and it is further provided with a ratchet 62, with which engages a balanced pawl 63, pivoted on the guide-bar 35.

IIO

In our machine the closure-plates between the wind-trunk and the pivoted stacker-tube are arranged on the outside of said trunk and tube. This arrangement is advantageous in that the closure-plates are not exposed to the chaff and straw which passes through the tube, and thus the plates are not liable to become clogged by lodgment of the straw against the joints between the plates and the stackertube.

In operation the fan or blower is driven by suitable connection with the threshing-machine, and the endless traveling conveyer 16 is belted to one of the shafts of said machine. The wind-trunk and stacker-tube are lowered into inclined positions with relation to the threshing-machine for the wind-trunk to bear against the seat 21 on the stacker-casing 4. As the wind-trunk is hinged or pivoted at its upper side to the links 25, the weight of the wind-trunk and the stacker tube thereon presses the open end of said wind trunk tightly against the seat 21 on said casing 4, and thus a tight joint is maintained between the casing and the wind-trunk. The chafi": and straw from the threshing-machine are carried by the conveyer 16 rearwardly and deposited into the hopper directly in the path of the blast of air from the fan or blower l1, and the air-blast carries the straw and chaif through the wind-trunk and the stackertube. The flared construction of the hopper 15 prevents the long straws and chaif from lodging and accumulating in said hopper to choke the same. The stacker-tube may be adjusted laterally on its hinged connection with the wind-trunk, and the tight joint between the stacker-tube and windtrunk is maintained by the closure-plates. The shaft 44 may be rotated to wind the cable 42 on the spool 43 and cause said cable to raise the stacker-tube and wind-trunk out of position and to fold upon the top of the threshing-machine, which folding of the stackertube and wind-trunk is desirable when the machine is to be transported, thus relieving the stacker-casing of the weight and strain of the stacker-tube when the machine is moved.

We are aware that changes in the form and proportion of parts and in the details of construction may be made by a skilled mechanic without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages of our invention, and we therefore reserve the right to make such modifications as clearly fall within the scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what we claim is 1. In a pneumatic straw-stacker, the combination with a casing and a wind-trunk, of a link hinge connection between said windtrunk and casing and having its parts joined above the line of contact or bearing of the j ustable wind-trunk arranged to be seated by gravity around the blast mouth or opening, a link hinge connection to sustain the windtrunk and permit it to be elevated for folding upon the threshing-machine, a stacker-tube on the wind-trunk, a transverse bar fixed to the deck ofthe threshing-machine and provided wit-h the guide-pulleys, a winding-shaft, and a hoisting-cable connected to the stackertube and carried around the guide-pulleys to the winding-shaft, said hoisting-cable spanning the joint between the stacker-tube and the transverse bar on the deck of the threshing-machine, substantially as described.

4:- In apneumatic straw-stacker, the combination with a casing, of a wind-trunk, a stacker-tube, link connections between the wind trunk and said casing, and means to limit the movement of the links with relation to the casing and the wind-trunk, substantially as and for the purposes described.

5. In a pneumatic straw-stacker, the combination with the casing, a wind-trunk, and a stacker-tube, of the slotted arms fixed on said casing, the arms extending from the windtrunk, and links fitted in the slotted arms and having their respective ends pivoted to the casing and the arms on the wind-trunk, substantially as and for the purposes described.

6. The combination with a threshing-machine, a hinged wind-trunk and a stacker-tube carried thereby, of a bracket fixed to the stacker-tube, a slotted cross-rail fixed to the threshing-machine and provided with guiderollers, a cable fixed at one end to the crossrail and passing through the bracket and around the guide-rollers, and an adjustingshaft to which said cable is fastened, substan- Witnesses:

NORMAN HANSON, JOHN NEFSNES. 

